Caribbean on High Alert as Powerful Hurricane Beryl Approaches

Hurricane Beryl, a formidable Category 3 storm, is rapidly advancing towards the southeast Caribbean, prompting urgent warnings and preparations across the region.

Early Monday, Hurricane Beryl moved towards the southeastern Caribbean, bringing with it warnings from officials for residents to brace for powerful winds and potentially dangerous swells. The US National Hurricane Center (NHC) reported that Beryl, located approximately 110 miles (175 kilometers) southeast of Barbados, remains a “dangerous major hurricane” as it approaches the Windward Islands and moves into the eastern Caribbean.

Initially classified as a Category 4 storm, Beryl has weakened slightly to Category 3 but continues to pose significant risks. Michael Lowry, a hurricane expert, highlighted the unusual timing of such a strong storm, noting that Beryl is the earliest Category 4 hurricane to form so far east in the tropical Atlantic in recorded history. He mentioned that only five major hurricanes (Category 3 or higher) have been recorded in the Atlantic before the first week of July, making Beryl’s early development particularly rare.

The islands of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada face the greatest immediate threat, with the storm’s core expected to impact these areas early Monday. The NHC has warned of “potentially catastrophic wind damage,” and has issued hurricane warnings for Barbados, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada, and Tobago. Meanwhile, Martinique and regions along the storm’s projected path, including southern Haiti and the Dominican Republic, are under tropical storm warnings or watches.

In response to the imminent threat, Tobago has declared a state of emergency, leading to the closure of schools, as announced by Farley Augustine, a top official. Grenada’s Prime Minister, Dickon Mitchell, has urged residents to seek shelter promptly and adhere to a curfew in place from 7:00 pm Monday to 7:00 am Tuesday.

The approach of Hurricane Beryl has disrupted activities across the region. A meeting of the Caribbean regional bloc CARICOM scheduled in Grenada has been postponed. In Barbados’ capital, Bridgetown, there have been long queues at gas stations and a rush to supermarkets as residents stock up on essentials. Some households have already started boarding up their homes in anticipation of the storm.

Hurricane Beryl became the first hurricane of the 2024 Atlantic season early Saturday, quickly intensifying to a Category 4 storm. According to the NHC, it is unprecedented for a hurricane to reach Category 4 in June.

As of 5:00 pm (2100 GMT) Sunday, Beryl was producing maximum sustained winds of approximately 130 mph (209 kilometers per hour), indicative of its continued strength. The NHC expects Beryl to maintain its intensity as it traverses the Caribbean, advising residents in the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica, the Cayman Islands, and the broader northwestern Caribbean to remain vigilant and closely monitor the storm’s trajectory.

The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) had previously forecasted an “extraordinary” hurricane season for this year, predicting up to seven storms of Category 3 or higher. This forecast reflects trends in recent years, where extreme weather events, including hurricanes, have become more frequent and severe, a pattern attributed to the effects of climate change.